Gun control arguments made of straw

Published 5:21 pm, Tuesday, February 26, 2013

To the editor:

In the last year measured (and I have rounded the numbers) the Centers for Disease Control identified 19,400 suicides by firearm; 19,000 by "other" means. There were 11,000 homicides by firearm; 5,800 by other means.

The total number for all deaths from firearms was 31,000, less than deaths from medical errors, vehicle-related accidents or poisoning.

The "sensible" gun laws proposed by federal and state legislators are designed to reduce or eliminate the cause of a total of 31,000 deaths a year, out of about 320 million Americans.

Regarding points in your Feb. 22 editorial:

1. "Limiting magazines to 10 rounds." With the slightest bit of practice, an empty clip can be replaced with a full one in less than five seconds.

2. "Ban more types of assault weapons." These guns are simply self-loading. Many shotguns and rifles used for hunting, and many handguns are semi-automatic (self-loading). I would suggest that this is about looks, nothing more. (And the last ban didn't work).

3. "Require background checks for all firearm purchases." The responsible system and data base for this (NICS) has been around for decades, and yet 20 states still do not provide some or all necessary records.

4. "Bar people convicted of crime, etc." I am not a lawyer, but I am pretty sure there are already laws on the books that are designed to do this. Where is the implementation?

5. "Require gun owners to secure their weapons in their homes." Presumably this is to prevent some of 20,000 accidental and suicide deaths. All guns not used for self-protection should have a minimum of trigger locks, and ideally be locked in a closet or safe. And there are very good easy-access safes for handguns used for self-protection if the owner isn't carrying.

New York City implemented the "stop, ask, frisk" police policy that has been largely credited with the substantial decline in NYC homicides. Chicago, D.C., and other crime-ridden cities need to do the same. Their citizens' absolute right to feel and be safe in their own cities trumps the rights of a few who are suspicious enough to warrant stop, ask, frisk.

Like the editorial did, let's speculate about Adam Lanza, and others like him. What if those who knew of his (their) behavior and condition had sounded the alarm to the appropriate authorities, and the mental health system was responsive and responsible? He (they) may have received the appropriate treatment and supervision that he (they) needed and he (they) and the victims may be alive today.

Setting up straw dogs to demonize (i.e., the NRA) is just an unnecessary diversion by people with an anti-gun agenda with no workable solutions.